Georgia-Turkey

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Georgia-Turkey

Report Number 8 -10 (5)

Protocol Between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of Georgia on the Confirmation of the Maritime Boundaries

Between Them in The Black Sea

Done: 14 July 1997

Entered into Force: 22 September 1999

Published at: T.C. ResJTU Gazete (Official Gazette), 20 October 1997, No. 23146

43 LOS BULL. 112 (2000)

Turkey and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics delimited their adjacent territorial sea boundary in the Black Sea on 17 April 1973 by a protocol signed at Ankara ((1973) (No. 8-10(1)). The parties later, by a protocol signed at Tbilisi on 11 September 1980, agreed to illustrate the existing territorial sea boundary on a l / l 00,000 scale chart on the bases of the 1973 Protocol. In addition, they also agreed by this protocol to build two direction signals to be located on land and a light to be constructed at the shore marking the initial point of the sea of this territorial boundary (41 ° 31' 18.39" N. Lat., 41 ° 32' 55.06" E. Long.) to enable mariners to locate the boundary.

The two states concluded an agreement on 23 June

1978

at Moscow to delimit

their continental shelf maritime boundary ((1978) (No. 8-10(2)). Later, in a verbal note of 23 December 1986, Turkey proposed that the continental shelf boundary line be used also to delimit their exclusive economic zone. The USSR agreed to this proposal in a note dated 6 February 1987 ((1986 & 1987) No. 10-8(3)).

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After the disintegration of the USSR, the members of the Soviet Commonwealth oflndependent States by the Minsk and Alma-Ata/IGev Agreements, 1 _{declared their} succession to the existing agreements of the USSR and the stability of existing land and maritime boundaries absent mutual agreements to change them. In addition to this legal commitment, the Russian Federation on 17 September 1992 and Ukraine on 30 May 1994 unilaterally confirmed to Turkey their succession to the maritime boundary agreements that had previously been concluded only between Turkey and the former USSR ((1994) No. 8-10(4)).

Turkey and Georgia concluded an agreement at Toilisi on 14 July 1997 concern ing their maritime boundaries that confirmed the validity, among themselves, of the above-mentioned maritime boundary agreements (( 1973, 1978, 1986 & 1987) Nos. 8-10(1)-(3)) which had been previously concluded between Turkey and the former USSR. This bilateral agreement between Turkey and Georgia came into force on 22 September 1999 and establishes a single maritime boundary between the two states for all purposes.

Prepared by Yuksel /nan

Anncnia-Az.erbaijan-Belarus-Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Moldova-RussianFederation-Tajikistan-Turkmenis tan-Uzbekistan-Ukraine: Agreements Establishing the Conunonwealth of Independent States, done at Minsk. 8 December 1991, and Alma Alta, 21 December 1991, 31 ILM 138 (1992); Annenia-Belarus Kazakhs1an-Kyrgyzstan-Russia-Tajiltlstan-Uzbeltlstan: Agreement on the Pirotection of the Slate Boundaries and Maritime Economic Zones of the Slates Participants of the Commonwealth of In

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2866 Report Number 8-10 (5)

After the disintegration of the USSR, the members of the Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States by the Minsk and Alma-Ata/Kiev Agreements, 1 _{declared their}

succession to the existing agreements of the USSR and the stability of existing land and maritime boundaries absent mutual agreements to change them. In addition to this legal commitment, the Russian Federation on 17 September 1992 and Ukraine on 30 May 1994 unilaterally confirmed to Turkey their succession to the maritime boundary agreements that had previously been concluded only between Turkey and

the former USSR ((1994) No. 8-10(4)).

Turkey and Georgia concluded an agreement at Tbilisi on 14 July 1997 concern ing their maritime boundaries that confirmed the validity, among themselves, of the above-mentioned maritime boundary agreements ((1973, 1978, 1986 & 1987) Nos. 8-10(1)-(3)) which had been previously concluded between Turkey and the former USSR. This bilateral agreement between Turkey and Georgia came into force on 22 September 1999 and establishes a single maritime boundary between the two

states

for

all purposes.

Prepared by Yuksel !nan

Armenia-Azerbaijan-Belarus-K.azalcmtan-Kyrgyzstan-Moldova-RwsianFederation-Tajikistan-Turlancnis t a n -Uzbekistan-Ukraine: Agreements Establishing the Conunonwealth of Independent States, done at Minsk, 8 December 1991, and Alma Alta, 21 December 1991, 31 ILM 138 (1992); Annenia-Belarus Kazalchstan-Kyrgyzstan-Rus.sia-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan: Agreement on the Protection of the State Boundaries and Maritime Economic :zones of the States Participants of the Commonwealth of In dependent States, done at Kiev, 20 March, 1992, 31 ILM 495 (1992).

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Protocol Between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of Georgia on the Confirmation of the Maritime Boundaries

Between Them in The Black Sea

The Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of Georgia, hereinafter referred to as Parties,

Having regard to the good-neighbourly relations between the Parties, Desiring to confirm the maritime boundaries between them through their commit ment to the following agreements concluded between the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Republic of Turkey:

- Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Govern merit of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning the establishment of the Maritime Boundary between the Soviet and Turkish Territorial Waters in the Black Sea, signed on 17 April 1973;

- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning the delimitation of the Continental Shelf between them in the Black Sea, signed on 23 June 1978;

- Protocols and other relevant documents between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning the demarcation of the Maritime Boundary, signed on 11 September 1980;

- Exchange of letters between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics dated subsequently 23 December 1986 and 6 February 1987 confirming the ex clusive economic zone frontier as the previously delimited continental shelf frontier,

and other existing related delimitation Agreements concluded between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,

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2868 Report Number 8-10 (5)

have agreed to confirm, in accordance with the foregoing legal instruments, the maritime boundaries between the Turkish and Georgian territorial waters in the Black Sea,

This Protocol shall be ratified in confonnity with the national legislation of each Contracting Party and enter into force on the date the exchange of the instruments of ratification through diplomatic channels.

DONE at Toilisi on 14 July 1997 in the Turkish, Georgian and English languages, being equally authentic.

(Signed)

For the Government of the Republic of Turkey

(Signed)